Boots Vitamin C Serum Versus Garnier 3.5% Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Brightening & Anti Dark Spot Serum
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Boots Vitamin C Serum 19 ingredients
Garnier 3.5% Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Brightening & Anti Dark Spot Serum 35 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Boots Vitamin C Serum 19 ingredients
Garnier 3.5% Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Brightening & Anti Dark Spot Serum 35 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, PEG-12 Dimethicone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Citrate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Ceramide AP, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isononyl Isononanoate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Oxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinYou might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Boots Vitamin C Serum 19 ingredients
Garnier 3.5% Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Brightening & Anti Dark Spot Serum 35 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Boots Vitamin C Serum 19 ingredients
Exceeded my (mediocre) expectations. Saw visible improvements within the month to overall dullness and skin tone, but this might also be explained by the glycolic acid I've used alongside. Regardless, an inexpensive serum to try.
Garnier 3.5% Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Brightening & Anti Dark Spot Serum 35 ingredients
Hate it
My skin isn't even that sensitive, and my forehead was completely ruined. My pores got enormous, then i got an incredible amount of small red pimples or something. I know my skin is kind of sensitive, but this serum was too much. Might work for some people, i know, but for me this was a no-no.
Definitely not for sensitive skin
I have combo sensitive skin and it absolutely destroyed my skin barrier. My face was red, tight and burning after second use. It smells like alcohol and have very strong scent. I will never ever use it not even on my neck or arms.
